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May primary might be sneaking up on some be

Editorials

It may come as a surprise to some Ohioans, but military and overseas voting has already begun for the May 6 primary election. That’s right, ballots are in the mail for an election less than six weeks away. If that has sneaked up on you, during such an eventful aftermath to the November 2024 general election, there is still time to get involved and get informed. April 7 is the deadline to register to vote in the May 6 election. Early voting, including absentee and in-person voting, begins April 8. In many ways, the kinds of decisions made during these off-year, spring elections can ...

Ohio House displays lack of faith in voters

Editorials

Members of the Ohio House of Representatives have come out and said it. They don’t believe you are smart enough to read and understand a ballot and make the best choice for your communities. On Monday, the House passed legislation that would eliminate replacement tax levies. According to a report by the Dayton Daily News, the measure could eliminate the ability of local tax jurisdictions to put replacement levies on ballots. Co-sponsors Reps. Thomas Hall, R-Dist. 46, and Adam Mathews, R-Dist. 56, genuinely believe you, the voter, are not capable of understanding the difference between ...

Unity Council in EP disbanding

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: It is with great regret that I announce The Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment is disbanding. The Unity Council was meant to bring the fighters in our communities, from Ohio and PA, together after the derailment. The council was designed to have our voices heard, information share, divide workload, and find answers. It was never meant to be a voice for every community member, as not all were impacted in the same ways. It was meant to be a voice for the concerned. However, as time has gone on, it has been made evident that what our concerns are, ...

Ohio and West Virginia not picking up pace in innovation

Editorials

Public officials in our region have said for years that one of their priorities is attracting and retaining new and exciting industries — and the kinds of individuals (and their families) who work for such companies. According to WalletHub’s “Most and Least Innovative States (2025),” neither Ohio nor West Virginia has picked up the pace on making that happen. In the list of most innovative states, Ohio ranks 42nd and West Virginia is 49th. Louisiana and Mississippi continue to cushion the Mountain State from hitting rock bottom. Ohio ranks 38th for both human capital and ...

Measles outbreak shows why vaccinations are so important

Editorials

Those wondering about the necessity of strong vaccine requirements should take a look at news out of Ashtabula County that this year’s first case of measles has been reported in Ohio. “The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the state health department. “This disease can be very serious, but it is preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated.” The Ashtabula County case was an adult — and unvaccinated man who had ...

Education voucher system needs returned to its intended purpose

Editorials

As Ohio lawmakers consider expanding funding for education vouchers, it appears as though the programs may have veered off course from their original intended purpose. According to a report by WCMH, data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce shows nearly 90% of the students enrolled in the state’s voucher program are NOT low-income qualified. When EdChoice was established, the whole idea was to broaden educational opportunities for low-income students who were not receiving the education they needed in struggling districts. Now, with the EdChoice Exp program, any ...